Why Slow Living Might Be the Most Sacred Choice You Make as a Mom

There’s something sacred about a slow morning with nowhere to be.

The coffee tastes better.

The kids play longer.

The house actually breathes.

But let me be honest:

Slow living isn’t my default.

I used to feel guilty if we weren’t “doing enough.” And by “we,” I mostly mean me.

I’m a homebody by nature, which might sound silly considering I just said I constantly felt the need to stay busy. But here’s the thing: I grew up in a home that was always on the go. My parents worked multiple jobs. I was always doing something: sports, activities, errands with friends. And that rhythm rolled straight into adulthood and motherhood.

The busyness changed shape with the seasons, but the underlying belief stayed the same:

Sitting, resting, being slow = lazy. Lazy = I am not worthy. Therefore, I must busy myself with anything and everything I can.

Postpartum with my daughter cracked that belief wide open.

It broke me. And it revealed just how deeply I longed to heal.

(It took me until after she turned two to actually start that deep healing journey, but trust me, we’ll get into that story another day.)

When I finally slowed down enough to listen...

Therapy showed me something gut-wrenching: Chasing “busy” meant I was missing the very moments I wanted to remember.

Moments I had already missed due to postpartum depression and rage.

I was unintentionally teaching my kids to miss the magic in their own lives, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that being their legacy.

All that rushing? All that “prove your worth” pressure?

It was destroying our family’s quality of life. It was breeding anxiety, frustration, and disconnection. And deep down, I was reinforcing a lie I never wanted my kids to believe:

Your worth is in your productivity.

And I had to undo that, not just for me, but for them.

So I began the hard work of reimagining what our life could look like if we slowed way, way down. What would it look like to live at our pace, not at the pace of another mom, another family, or an internet influencer?

The truth is:

We live in a culture that idolizes hustle. That fears stillness. That forgets rest is holy.

Jesus rested. Why can’t we?

So my husband and I decided: We’re building a life that might look boring on paper…but feels rich in our bones.

And for us, right now, that looks like:

• Slow Sunday mornings with pancakes and worship music

• Backyard expeditions instead of expensive field trips

• Low lighting and Alanis Morissette radio while we cook dinner

• Quiet reading time in the afternoon (even if it only lasts five minutes)

• Turning grocery trips into scavenger hunts

• Saying no to what doesn’t serve the season we’re in

  
  

It’s not about never doing things. It’s about making sure the things don’t do us.

I used to think “quality time” had to be Pinterest-worthy.

A perfectly planned craft. A well-documented family outing. Matching outfits optional but preferred.

Now?

I’m realizing the most meaningful memories are found in:

• The way they ask to help stir dinner

• The sound of bare feet running through the house

• The laughter from a living room dance party

• The way they fall asleep in my lap while I read

  
  

I used to rush through all of that just to stay busy. Now I’m capturing those moments like little mental Polaroids.

You don’t need to do more. You don’t need to prove anything. You’re allowed to slow down, even if the world is sprinting.

This season is already enough.

Your home. Your pace. Your people.

They are the life you’re building.

Let it be beautifully boring. Let it be yours.

What’s one slow moment that’s filled your heart recently? I’d love to hear it in the comments or over on Instagram stories. Let’s make a habit of remembering the magic that’s already here.

Until next time, may your home be whole, your heart be light, and your faith be fierce.

With love,

Makaila